Global Risk Forum 402 & 403
The first week of 2026 is almost over, and it has already been marked by a series of significant global developments. This week, we will focus on the most consequential events, including the high-profile detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and its implications for U.S.-Latin America relations. We will also explore OPEC+’s decision to maintain […]
Global Risk Forum 400 & 401
The Institute of Strategic Risk Management will be introducing a number of updates and changes in 2026, beginning on Friday, 2 January 2026, with Global Risk Forum 400 & 401 – a refreshed edition of Global Crisis Watch designed to deepen discussion on the risks shaping the global landscape. This milestone session will focus on the most consequential […]
Global Crisis Watch 399
The past year has been defined by events that materially transformed the global risk environment. From the return of Donald Trump to the White House and ongoing uncertainty surrounding Ukraine, to fragile ceasefires in the Middle East, market-sensitive political moments in the UK and the rise of radical political movements across Europe, 2025 repeatedly challenged […]
Global Crisis Watch 398
Sydney Hanukkah shooting exposes vulnerabilities in protecting religious events Australian authorities say the deadly attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which killed at least 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration, was driven by extremist ideology linked to the so-called Islamic State. Beyond the immediate investigation, the incident has intensified debate about the growing challenge of protecting […]
GCW 396 & 397 – The Fragmentation of Global Gas Markets: New Dependencies, New Risks
Global gas markets are undergoing a profound transformation, reshaping trade flows, supply strategies and energy security worldwide. Once dominated by predictable pipelines and long-term contracts, the sector is now increasingly fragmented, driven by geopolitical tensions, climate ambitions and rising technological demands. The war in Ukraine and Western sanctions on Russia have disrupted traditional export routes, […]
Global Crisis Watch 394 & 395
Putin rejects key terms in US-backed deal as fighting continues in Pokrovsk Five hours of talks in Moscow between Russian President Vladimir Putin, US envoy Steve Witkoff and US Presidential adviser Jared Kushner did not deliver a breakthrough toward ending the war in Ukraine. Kremlin officials described the meeting as “constructive”, but Russia still rejects […]
GCW 392 & 393 – Insights from the UK COVID-19 Inquiry on Pandemic Lessons
This Friday, Global Crisis Watch will take an in-depth look at the long-term societal and policy impacts of COVID-19, guided by the findings of the newly released UK COVID-19 Inquiry report. Chaired by former senior judge Baroness Heather Hallett, the 800-page report provides a critical assessment of how the UK and devolved governments responded during the early […]
Global Crisis Watch 390 & 391
Floods Deepen Gaza’s Humanitarian Crisis as Trump-Backed Resolution Advances The UN Security Council has approved a US-drafted resolution endorsing President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza , including the creation of an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) and a transitional governance body, the Board of Peace (BoP). The ISF is intended to work with Israel, Egypt […]
Global Crisis Watch 388 & 389 – Green Gold Gone: The Global Risk of Deforestation
Deforestation remains one of the world’s most pressing global risks — a challenge that cuts across environmental, political and economic dimensions. Despite ambitious global pledges to end deforestation and restore degraded forests by 2030, recent data show that the goal remains far from reach. At the 2021 UN Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, more than […]
Global Crisis Watch 386 & 387
El-Fasher Falls as Sudan Faces Echoes of Genocide The fall of El-Fasher in early November 2025 marks one of the darkest chapters in Sudan’s civil war. The city, the last stronghold of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in Darfur, was seized by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) after an 18-month siege. Its capture triggered mass […]